Infrasonic Stethoscope for Monitoring Physiological Processes

An infrasonic stethoscope device for monitoring physiological processes of a patient, said device comprising:

• a body comprising an opening within a first end, a body end wall at a second end opposite the first end, and a body side wall extending between the first end and the second end;
• a body coupler attached to the first end and over the opening of the body to form a substantially air-tight seal, wherein the body coupler is capable of engagement with the patient;
• a cavity surrounded by the body end wall, the body side wall and the body coupler;
• a conductive backplate within the cavity and defining a backchamber between the conductive backplate and the body end wall;
• a conductive membrane within the cavity, the conductive backplate and the conductive membrane being spaced apart from each other to form a capacitor;
• and
• a preamplifier board in electrical connection with the conductive backplate, the preamplifier (i) being capable of measuring a capacitance between the conductive membrane and the conductive backplate and converting the measured capacitance into a voltage signal, and (ii) being parallel to each of the conductive backplate and the conductive membrane,
• said device being capable of detecting acoustic signals in a frequency range of about 0.03 Hertz to 1000 Hertz.